Wheel construction



Ocvli. 9, 19745. Q A, LYON 2,386,226

' WHEEL ooNsTRUcTIN Filed Feb. 25, 1943 Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Y kGeorge Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J. Application February 25, 1943, Serial No. 477,000k claims. rc1.- coil-37) This invention relates (to an improved wheel structure and is directed more particularly to an improved wheel trim assembly therefor and to improved retaining means vfor maintaining the wheel assembly on the wheel structure.

An important object of the invention is to provide a wheel cover member which is so constructed that the tire rim and the valve stem of the tire is eiectively concealed and yet which is so constructed that the rear side of the -cover member together with the valve is accessible without requiring removal of the cover member from the wheel. 1

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved'wheel structure 'y including a cover member arranged Yto cover the outer side of the wheel rim of the wheel structure and having a cross-sectional configuration of such curvature and magnitude that it constitutes in effect a continuation of the side wall of the tire so as to give the appearance of being a part thereof and furthermore will if finished in white give the appearance of a massive tire having white side walls without requiring the expense of providing such a tire.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wheel-cover of the above character which may be constructed from synthetic plastic, rubber, either natural or synthetic, or other rubber-like material having characteristics whichl enable it to be deflected resiliently locally to provide access to the rear side of the cover member without requiring removal of said member. y l

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved retaining assembly for maintaining the cover assembly upon the wheel structure.

AAnother and still further object of the invention is to provide, for a cover assembly including an outer annular portion and a central hub cap or disk portion, an improved retaining assembly so constructed and arranged that it cooperates with both portions of the cover assembly to retain the same in their assembled positions so that the cover portions'are retained floatingly in concentric relationship and so that the retaining member is compressed between the cover portions thereby to increase the retaining action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved retaining means for retaining a radially outer `part and a central part of a wheel cover assembly upon a wheel structure in such a manner that it is resiliently compressed between the parts to retain them on thev Wheel structure in snap-on pry-off relationship.

In accordance with the general features of my invention there is provided hereina wheel structure including a central body or spider part and a tire rim mounted thereon, together with retaining means constructed to resiliently receive an outer annular part of a cover member in snap-On pryoff relationship by engagement of the inner periphery thereof andto resiliently receive a central hub cap portion in snap-on pry-olf relationshipby engagement with the outer peripheral part thereof, the retaining means being in itself resilient and thus maintaining the cover member in assembled relationship due to compressive action imposed thereon by the wheel cover parts.

In accordance with other features of my invention the retaining means may be adapted for retention of an outer cover-portion constructed from` rubber-like material whereby it may be locallyresiliently flexed to afford access to the rear side Ythereof and may therefore Y be constructedto entirely cover the outer part of the wheel rim and to conceal the appurtenances associated lwith theV wheel rim thus rendering these appurtenances accessible without requiring removal of the cover member from the wheel structure.-- Y y lOther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing in vwhich Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View oia'wheel structure embodying one form of my invention; f Figure 2 is a side elevational view with parts brokenV away showing the form of my invention disclosed in Figure -1;

l Figure 3 'is afragmentary cross-sectional view showing a modied form of my invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View showing a further modified form of my invention; and Y l Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View showing still another modified form of my invention.

It is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes only and may be changed or modied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the-appended claims.

AsV shown in Figure 1 theireference character I0 designates generally a multiflange, drop center type of tirev rim which is connected as by riveting or welding iory the like through a base flange Il to 'a central body part or spider l2 which includes a centralbolt on flange Y I3'.k The drop center rim I0 is provided with opposite side flanges I4, opposite intermediate flanges I and opposite edge portions I3. A suitable tire I 'I having an inner tube I8 and a valve stem I9 is mounted upon the rim, one of the side walls I4 having an orifice through which the valve stem I9 may project.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 includes a cover assembly comprising an outer annulus 29 and a central hub cap portion 2|. The cover part 2D, as indicated previously, may, be constructed from synthetic plastic, rubber, 'eithersynthetic or natural,y or some other substance having rubber-like characteristics whereby the cover portion may be flexed locally away from the rim I0 to aord access'to the tire valve I9 as disclosed in dotted linesin Figure 1. f

With a cover portion so constructedit is now feasible to provide the cover with a cross-sectional conguration of such curvature and mag-V nitude thatit entirely conceals the outer part ofthe tire rim and the appurtenances such as the tire valveand wheel weights which are associated therewith. As shown in Figure 1 in order that the above concealment may be accomplished the cover portion 2i) is so constructed that the outer periphery thereof extends atleast to the edge portion i6 of the tire rim and YradiallyV inwardly to a part of the wheel spider l2.

` As shown on the drawings the cover member 2|)A is provided at 4itsinner peripheral edge with a reinforcing bead 22, this bead facilitating the attachment of the cover membento the wheel structure in a manner to be presently described. To the end that the cover assembly may be securely retained in non-vibrating, detachable engagement there is provided herein a retaining member which may be in the forni of individual clipsbut in the present instance is shown as an .annulus which includes a retaining portion 23 `and an attachment portion 2 4. The attachment portion shown yin Figure ;l is particularly adapted to wheel structures in whichspaces are provided around the junction between the axially inwardly disposed flange I2a of the body part I2 and the lowermost surface of the base flange Il, of the tire rim In. In this construction the attachment portion 24 of the retaining member includes `an axially inwardly extending arm 25 which terminates inwardly in an axially outwardly radially outwardly o bliquely disposed member 25 the end of which bites intothe lower surface of the base ila-nge I I afterthe retaining member has been placed against the wheel structure and the attachment` portions thereof forced into the lspaces between the wheel body part and the tirerim. It will be understood of course that the attachment portions -25 of the retaining member comprise spaced fingers disposed for registry with the aforementioned spaces between the wheel parts andas shown clearly in Figure 2. Preferably these fingers are dis'- posed in four groups around the retaining part so that when stamped from` sheet Vmetal strips the .waste will be reduced to a minimum.

The vretaining portion 23 of the retaining member includes an annular bead which is so crosssectional formed as. to provide a radially outwardly extendinggroove 21 thereof adjacent the attachment .portion 24, an` axially outwardly curved surface portion -28` which may be highly polished 'oi'.painted .to give thedesired ornam'entalappearance and a termin-alportion which is formed to. provide ar resilient bead 29.

Y in 4assembling the cover structure upon the wheel it will be seen that the retaining portion 23 of the retaining member is bodily resilient with respect to the attachment portion 24 thereof and particularly the arm 25 of the attachment portion.` Thus the outer annular cover portion 20 may be readily urged axially inwardly into the groove 2`I. Thereafter the hub cap portion 2l which is provided with an attachment flange 3f! that terminates in a snap-on bead 3I may be urged axially inwardly with the bead overriding the axially inner rib or: hub 29 of. the retaining portion 23. The assembly of the hub cap member as above described is facilitated by the inherent resiliency of the retaining portion 23 of compressed to some degree to allow the snap-on engagement of the hub cap portion 2l. After it is assembled as `shown in Figure l, it will be clearly seen that the hub cap portion 2l, during its retention in assembled position, will serve to prevent radial flexing of the retaining portion 23 andthus the cover member 20 will be securely maintainedin the groove 2 against axial out-v ward movement therefrom.

With the foregoing construction it will be seen that the cover. parts 2D and 2'I'wil1 be securely retained upon the wheel structure by virtue of the compressive action theyimpose upon the re-V taining portion 23 of the retaining member. Furthenmore it will be seen thatwhile the cover portion 2 0 effectively conceals the outerlportion of the tire rim and the appurtenances associated therewith and presents in el'ec'ta continuation of the side wall of the tire so as to give the 4appearance of being a part of the tire,v the appurtenances en -the tire rim will be readily available due to the local resilient exing of the cover portion. .c .f It is to be further notedthat this flexing of the cover portion is greatly facilitated bythe nature of its engagementwith the retaining member. A-s lw-il-lbe seen from Figure 1 the inner peripheral edge ofthe cover member 2 9 is `in no wayinterlocked or gripped by the retaining member and thus the bead 22 is free to pivot upon 'the retaining memberin the groove 21 to further accommodate the flexing `action above referred te.

A further aspectof the rubber-like qualities of the coverpart l2i) is that it may be snapped elastical-ly over the retaining member into the groove `2I whereupon the retaining member will serve as a rigid backing forthejbead 22. Y In the construction shown in `lf'figure 3 the retaining assembly is similari() that disclosed in the construction of Figure 1 with the exception that theattachment portion of the retaining member 32 comprises ngers 33 which bite into the radially inner surface ofthe intermediate flange I5 and thus may be adapted to assembly with thaw-heel structure `in which the spaces between the base flange H and the ange 12a of the body part I 2 arenot-available.

Here again the outer cover member 34 is provided with aninner peripherai bead. 35 whichis adapted to lock in a groove 36 of the retaining member 32 while the central hub cap portion 31 is adapted to vhave the bead 38 which serves as the terminal end iof, the snap-en flange 38 snapped on and over the vradially -i-nner portion of the retaining member 3 2. V In this construction also the assembly ofthe centraihub cap portion 31 urges the retaining member 32 radially outwardly to more securely engage v'the inner pe-A ripheral edge ofthe cover member 34. l

In the construction showndn -F'gure were which forms a'grooveV 45 linto which the inner f peripheral bead 46 of the cover member 4| may be lodged after it isA urged over thev axiallyouter portion of the retaining` part 44." Invthis construction also the -central hub` cap portion 42 is provided with a snap-on'ange 4l terminating in a bead 48 which may be urged over the axiallyfinwardlycurled part of the retaining member 4. Here again the assembly of the hub cap portion 42 disposes the retaining member 40 under compression whereby the cover member 4| is securely retained in its assembled position against axially outward movement from the wheel structure.

In the constructions of Figures 3 and 4 as in the construction of Figure 1, the inner peripheral edge of the outer cover portion is engaged by the retaining member for free pivotal movement whereby the local exure of the cover annulus due to its locally flexible rubber-like qualities is greatly augmented thus relieving the annulus from strain when it is flexed locally as shown in Figure 1 to render the rear side thereof accessible for inilating the tire or adjusting wheel balancing weights or the like.

In the event that a central ornamental member differing from that disclosed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is to be utilized the construction shown in Figure 5 may be availed of. In this form of the invention the retaining member diiers from that disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 in that the hub cap is not utilized to urge the retaining portion 49 radially outwardly. Accordingly some provision must be made for retaining the rubber-like cover member 50 upon the wheel structure without the aid of a central hub cap portion. To this end the retaining member is so cross-sectionally configurated as to provide a `somewhat deeper groove 5I for receiving the bead 52 formed at the inner peripheral edge of the cover member 50. In addition the cross-sectional dimensions of the retaining member 49 are considerably reduced. By this construction it is found that the increased depth of the groove and the reduced resiliency due to the reduction in the amount of metal in the retaining member considerably increases the retaining action of the member upon the inner peripheral margin of the cover part 50 while at the same time the above described pivot action between the bead on the inner peripheral margin of the cover member 50 and the retaining member is still available for augmenting the local flexure of the cover member to render the rear side thereof accessible.

It will be understood that while the retaining means disclosed herein is described in conjunction with my novel locally fiexible, resilient outer cover portion the advantages thereof may also be availed of in use with a cover assembly in which all of the parts are so constructed that once assembled upon the wheel they are retained relatively inflexibly thereon until bodily removed for repairs or the like.

From the foregoing it will lbe seen that there is provided herein a wheel cover assembly which includes an outer portion constructed to have rubber-like .characteristics enabling it to be locally resiliently exed to' afford access to the rear side ythereof thus permitting the cover memberto be Adisposed over the tire rim to .concealthev entire outer side-thereof and the appurtenances lassociated therewith and to constitutey in effect a continuation of the side wall of a tire to'givethe appearance of being a part thereof and to give. the appearance of being the white side wallv of the tire if colored white,l this cover portion being securely maintained ort the wheel structure by novel retaining means which holds .the coveron the wheel structure by virtue of its own resiliency and also by virtue of the abutment of thecentr'al hub cap portion thereagainst to compress vthe same between the cover parts. It will also'be seen that there is provided hereinretaining means having the aforementioned characteristics and furthermore which, during its retaining action, serves additionally as an ornamental trim member for disposition lbetween the outer annular cover part and the central hub cap part.

I claim as follows:

1. In a Wheel structure, an annular retainer member secured to the wheel and including a concealed, axially inwardly disposed set of resilient wheel engaging members and a substantially axially outwardly extending, bodily flexible retaining portion formed to support a cover assembly in disposition over the outer side of the wheel and over said resilient wheel engaging members.

2. In a wheelv structure, a cover assembly including an outer annular part and a central hub cap portion for disposition over the outer side of the wheel structure in spaced concentric relationship, a retaining assembly for retaining said cover assembly over the outer side of the wheel structure including an attachment portion for engaging the wheel structure and a retainingv portion resiliently associated with the attachment portion and having a cross-sectional configuration so as to present a radially outwardly extending portion for retainingly receiving the outer cover part of the cover assembly and a radially inwardly extending portion for retainingly receiving the hub cap portion, said radially inwardly extending portion being resiliently squeezed radially outwardly by said hwb cap portion.

3. In a wheel structure, a cover assembly including an outer annular part and a central hub cap portion for disposition over the outer side of the wheel structure in spaced concentric relationship, a retaining assembly for retaining said cover assembly over the outer side of the wheel structure including an attachment portion for engaging the wheel structure and a retaining portion resiliently associated with the attachment portion and having a cross-sectional configuration so as to present a radially outwardly extending portion for retainingly receiving the outer cover part of the cover assembly and a radially inwardly extending portion for retainingly receiving the hub cap portion, said retaining portion being constructed to be resiliently compressed between the outer portion and the hub cap annular part of the cover assembly when engaged thereby.

4. In a retaining assembly for securing t0 a Wheel structure a wheel cover assembly including an outer annular portion and a hub cap portion, an attachment portion for engaging the wheel structure and a retaining portion constructed to extend substantially axially loutwardly thereof, said retaining portion being constructed to include a part presenting a radially outwardly extending groove for receiving the inner periphery of the outer cover portion, a part presenting a radially inwardly extending hump for receiving the outer edge of the hub cap portion and an intermediate part between said groove and said hump adapted to ex when said hub cap portion is retained thereon to secure the same to the wheel structure by virtue. ofcompressive action.

5. In a wheel structure, a Wlieel cover assembly adaptedfor disposition over the outer part of the wheel and including an outer lannular' portion and aicentral hub cap portion, retaining means for detachably securing said annular member and said hulo' cap portion to the outer side of the wheel including an attachment part constructed .to be secured to the wheel structure and a cover assembly retaining part secured to said attachment part for radial lexure relative thereto. said retaining part beingconstructed to be resiliently compressed in a radial direction relative to the Wheel structure and being arranged to present a radially outwardly facing part for receiving the inner peripheral edge ofthe annular part of the cover' assembly and a radially inwardly facing part forV receiving thehub cap portion in detachable relationship, said radially outwardly and radially inwardly extending parts neing connected by a loop like part constructed to be compressed radially When the cover portions are detachably secured on the retaining portion therel5 by toretain the same in concentric relationship upon the wheel. t

Y GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

